Wake Forest University
Virginia*
Demon Deacons Win ACC Opener At Virginia
9/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 26, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.-- The Wake Forest volleyball team knocked off Virginia on Friday evening at Memorial Gym, putting an end to the Cavaliers' 16 match winning streak. The Deacs improved to 11-2 while Virginia fell to 16-1. That 16 match winning streak had been the longest in Virginia's history. At 11-2, the Demon Deacons are off to their best start since the 1998 season when they finished 21-12 overall.
The Demon Deacons were led by sophomore Valerie Rydberg, who did not play on Tuesday night against Gardner-Webb, but returned to Wake Forest's lineup in grand fashion on Friday evening. Rydberg recorded a match-high 20 kills to go along with 18 digs and four service aces. Sophomore Christy Williams also had an outstanding match for Wake Forest, hitting .478 with 14 kills, five block assists and a solo block. Junior Kim Stern notched 14 kills of her own and led all players with a .545 attack percentage. Sophomore setter Erin Borhart continued her strong season as she picked up eight kills, eight digs and a career-high 59 assists.
Wake Forest dropped the opening game by a score of 30-26. The Deacs made ten errors and hit just .116 as a team in that first game as Virginia never trailed.
In game two, The Demon Deacons took advantage of an outstanding .500 hitting percentage, putting away 20 kills and committing just three errors. The Cavaliers also hit a strong .342 in the game, but Wake Forest came out ahead, 30-26.
The Deacs maintained their consistent play in games three and four while Virginia simply could not keep up. Wake Forest rolled to a 30-24 win in game three and finished off the Cavaliers with a close, 30-28 victory in the fourth and final game.
The Demon Deacons return to action when they travel to College Park, Md. for a match against the Maryland Terrapins at 5 pm on Saturday.
